My last post was titled, ‘comfy dressing before and after baby’. I discussed the significance of being fitted into a maternity bra at the 16 week gestation period. And in the first three to four months the breasts begin to prepare for lactation and glandular development occurs – a woman’s cup size increases during this time.
I also mentioned that clothing comfort is key during and after baby. Fabrics such as spandex and elastane are super stretchy, and jersey too for it’s lightweight and flexible drape ability.
So what is a woman to wear while carrying her baby, be it the first, second or subsequent pregnancy? Most women don’t want to own a wardrobe full of maternity clothes long after baby arrives – I know I didn’t. It’s hard to justify investing in a new wardrobe for a finite amount of time. It can also feel like a huge chore to look fab while pregnant – particularly if you have to work or care for other children.
Many pregnant women don’t even ‘show’ until the start of the second trimester. Try to get the most out of your current wardrobe items before heading out to buy more clothes. Utilize any unrestricting and oversized garments that feel the most comfortable, i.e long tops, shirts, vests, cardigans and jackets. Clothes that unzip and unbutton will be the most useful, practical and versatile for layering and removing. They’ll also help to keep you cool as some women experience feeling warmer than usual during pregnancy – I sure did.
Consider a belly band for some of your current wardrobe pieces. These are a flexible tube-like garment that is worn around the belly to extend the life of pre-pregnancy clothing by covering unbuttoned or unzipped pants, jeans or skirts. They also act as a layer to help cover areas of skin that become exposed as the belly expands. Belly bands are quite popular among pregnant women and come in different shapes, sizes, colours and designs. Maternity jeans/pants are another great option and investment once your belly grows out of your pre-pregnancy ones. Keep in mind the waistline should be loose and elastic should not obstruct the baby’s movement or confine the blood flow to the stomach.
Maternity clothes are designed to expand and evolve as your body changes from week to week, and the comfort factor will be a welcome relief. If you decide you don’t want to invest in maternity clothes opt for larger and oversize items instead – it’s a great blessing these have been ‘on trend’ for a while now.
And we’ve seen over the past two years a return of the trendy, comfy and relaxed overall trend. I loved and lived in mine nearly two decades ago when I was pregnant. They also offer fabulous versatility for feeding once baby arrives and can be belted or just worn oversized post-baby.
As seen in http://www.weekenderherald.com.au/
